Tasmania's estimated resident population at 30 June 2000 was 470,376, which was 2.46% of the nation's population. At that time the Greater Hobart-Southern Region had an estimated resident population of 229,060 persons, which was 48.7% of the State's population. The Northern Region had an estimated resident population of 133,080 persons (28.3% of the State's population) and the Mersey-Lyell Region had an estimated resident population of 108,236 persons (23.0%).

Between 1998 and 2000, Tasmania's annual population declined. At 30 June 2000, Tasmania had an estimated 427 fewer residents than at 30 June 1999, a decline of 0.1%. The estimated net population decline between 1998 and 1999 was 897 residents or 0.2%. There was population decline in all three Tasmanian Regions during both periods. The estimated resident population of the Greater Hobart-Southern Region declined by 383 residents (0.2%) between 1998 and 1999, and by 59 residents (0.03%) between 1999 and 2000. The Northern Region's estimated resident population declined by 8 residents (0.01%) between 1998 and 1999, and by 89 residents (0.1%) between 1999 and 2000. In the Mersey-Lyell Region the estimated resident population declined by 506 people (0.5%) between 1998 and 1999, and 279 people (0.3%) between 1999 and 2000.

Labour force

In 2000, there was an estimated average of 200,400 employed people (in original terms) in Tasmania, an increase of 3,800 on the estimated average of 196,600 employed people in 1999. An estimated average of 19,200 people were classed as unemployed in Tasmania in 2000. Of these, 10,100 were in the Greater Hobart-Southern Region, 5,000 were in the Northern Region, and 5,100 were in the Mersey-Lyell Region.

In 2000, Tasmania's average unemployment rate was 8.7%. The Greater Hobart-Southern Region had an unemployment rate of 9.4%, the Northern Region a rate of 7.7% and the Mersey-Lyell Region a rate of 10.5%. The Tasmanian participation rate was 59.2%. The Greater Hobart-Southern Region had a participation rate of 58.6%, the Northern Region a rate of 59.7% and the Mersey-Lyell Region a rate of 59.1%.

Education

There were 282 schools in Tasmania in 2000, four fewer than in 1998. During the same period the proportion of schools run by private institutions (23.8% in 2000) increased by 0.7%. The number of Tasmanian full-time students attending both private and public schools dropped from 84,116 students in 1998, to 83,537 in 2000, a decline of 0.7%. This decrease in full-time students was greater in the private school sector (1.9%) than in the public system (0.3%). The number of Tasmanian students enrolled at the University of Tasmania increased by 1.3% between 1998 and 2000, from 10,517 students to 10,657 students.

The small decline in the number of schools between 1998 and 2000 at the State level, was spread evenly across the Regions, with the Greater Hobart-Southern Region losing two schools during the period, and the Northern and Mersey-Lyell Regions both losing one. During the same period the number of full-time students in the Greater Hobart-Southern Region declined by 178 students, the number in the Northern Region increased by 120 students, and the number in the Mersey-Lyell Region declined by 521 students. Between 1998 and 2000 the number of students from the Greater Hobart-Southern Region who enrolled at the University of Tasmania increased by 301, while decreasing in both the Northern and Mersey-Lyell Regions, by 117 and 44 students respectively.

Income

The number of individual taxpayers in Tasmania declined from 195,100 in the 1997-98 financial year to 186,300 in the 1998-99 financial year, which was a decline of 4.5%. During the same period, Tasmania's mean taxable income increased by 5.7% from $29,285 to $30,953. The number of Tasmanians receiving the Age Pension and Disability Support Pension between 4 January 1999 and 4 June 2000 also increased, by 1.4% and 4.5% respectively. Similarly, in each of the Regions there was a decline in the number of taxpayers, as well as increases in the mean taxable income and the number of Age and Disability Support pension recipients. The Mersey-Lyell Region had the largest decline in taxpayers (5.6%), as well as the largest increase in taxable income (5.8%), and in Age Pension recipients (5.3%), while the Greater Hobart-Southern Region had the largest increase in Disability Support Pension recipients (7.5%). The proportion of taxpayers residing in the Mersey-Lyell, Northern and Greater Hobart-Southern Regions in 1999-2000 was 21.9%, 27.9% and 49.8% respectively.

Victims of selected offences

In Tasmania in 2000, there were 3,367 reported motor vehicle thefts, 78 victims reporting armed robberies, and 194 victims reporting sexual assaults. Between 1998 and 2000 the number of victims reporting sexual assault and armed robbery decreased by 10.2 % and 8.2% respectively at the State level, while the number of motor vehicle thefts increased by 12.6%.

At the regional level in 2000, 67.8% of motor vehicle thefts occurred in the Greater Hobart-Southern Region, 24.9% in the Northern Region, and 7.2% in the Mersey-Lyell Region. The greatest percentage change in the number of reported vehicle thefts between 1998 and 2000 occurred in the Northern Region, with the number increasing by 75.7% during the period. The Greater Hobart-Southern Region also had the highest proportion of victims reporting armed robbery in the State in 2000 (60.3%), while the Northern Region had 32.1%, and the Mersey-Lyell Region, 7.7%. Between 1998 and 2000 the greatest change in the number of victims reporting armed robbery was in the Mersey-Lyell Region, in which the number of victims fell by 68.4%. In 2000, 53.6% of the victims reporting sexual assault were in the Greater Hobart-Southern Region, 22.2% in the Northern Region, and 24.2% in the Mersey-Lyell Region. The greatest change in the number of victims reporting this crime was in the Northern Region, where the number of victims reporting sexual assaults dropped by 24.6% between 1998 and 2000.

New motor vehicle registrations

In 2000, there were 15,767 new motor vehicle registrations in Tasmania, a decrease of 3.1% from the number registered in 1998 (16,272). The majority of new motor vehicle registrations in the State in 2000 were in the Greater Hobart-Southern Region (58.0%), followed by the Northern Region (24.1%) and the Mersey-Lyell Region (17.8%).

Building

There were 1,554 dwelling unit approvals recorded in Tasmania in 2000, 1.6% fewer than in 1999 and 3.9% more than in 1998. At the regional level, increases over the number of dwelling approvals in the previous year (of between 3% and 12%) were recorded in both 1999 and 2000 in all Regions except the Northern, in which there was a 15.3% decline between 1999 and 2000. The value of new residential building approvals in Tasmania in 2000 was estimated at $166.0m. This figure also increased during both years in all Regions except the Northern, in which there was a 10.1% decrease in the value of new residential building approvals between 1999 and 2000.

The value of non-residential building approvals fluctuated in the two years between 1998 and 2000, in all of the Regions and at the State level. At the State level the value of non-residential building approvals increased by 46.9% from $130.8m in 1998 to $192.1m in 1999, and then decreased by 17.6% to $158.3m in 2000. In the Greater Hobart-Southern Region, the value of non-residential building approvals increased by 94.9% between 1998 and 1999, and then fell by 23.1% to reach $91.6m in 2000. In the Northern Region there was a 10.4% decrease between 1998 and 1999, followed by an increase of 7.3% to reach $44.3m in 2000. In the Mersey-Lyell Region the value of non-residential building approvals increased by 34.9% between 1998 and 1999, and then fell by 29.7% to $22.3m in 2000.

Agriculture

In the year ending 31 March 1999, there were 4,446 agricultural establishments with an estimated value of agricultural operations (EVAO) of $5,000 or more operating in Tasmania, a decrease of 0.8% in the number reported for the previous year (4,482). Although there was a small decline in the number of establishments in all Regions between these years, the only Region that lost more than 10 agricultural establishments was the Mersey-Lyell Region, where the number of establishments fell by 27 (1.5%). Of all the agricultural establishments in the State in the year ending 31 March 1999, 39.0% were located in the Mersey-Lyell Region, 35.6% were in the Northern Region, and 25.4% were in the Greater Hobart-Southern Region.

The value of agricultural commodities produced (VACP) in Tasmania in the year ending 31 March 1998 was $678.2m. This value rose to $699.9m in the year ending 31 March 1999. The Mersey-Lyell Region contributed the largest share of Tasmania's VACP during that period, producing 43.5% ($304.7m) of the State total. In the same year, the Northern Region contributed 35.5% ($248.6m) and the Greater Hobart-Southern Region contributed 20.9% ($146.6m).

Tourist accommodation

The number of hotel, motel, guest house and serviced apartment establishments with 15 or more rooms in operation during the December quarters of 1998, 1999 and 2000 showed very little variation, at both the Regional and State levels. Variation was apparent, however, in room occupancy rates and takings, with both increasing between 1998 and 2000 in the Greater Hobart-Southern Region, by 3.1% and 11.1%, respectively. Both room occupancy rates and takings declined between 1998 and 2000 in the Mersey-Lyell Region, by 5.4% and 1.4%, respectively. In the Northern Region during this period, the room occupancy rate declined by 0.8%, while takings from accommodation increased by 1.1%. Takings from accommodation also increased between 1998 and 2000 at the State level, by 5.9%, while the State's room occupancy rate remained stable.

Employment generated by hotels, motels, guest houses and serviced apartments either remained stable or declined in the three Regions during this period, declining at the State level by 3.0% in the 2000 December quarter.

In the December quarter 2000, the Greater Hobart-Southern Region had 40.6% of Tasmania's hotels, motels, guest houses and serviced apartments with 15 or more rooms and gathered 56.1% of the takings from accommodation, the Northern Region had 28.1% of these establishments and 25.8% of the takings, while the remaining 31.3% of the establishments were located in the Mersey-Lyell Region, which claimed 18.2% of the takings.

REGIONAL SUMMARY

Greater Hobart-Southern

Northern

Unit

1998

1999

2000

1998

1999

2000

Area

km2

..

..

25,616

..

..

19,980

Population

Estimated resident population at 30 June

no.

229,502

229,119

229,060

133,177

133,169

133,080

Population change from previous year

%

-0.26

-0.17

-0.03

-0.41

-0.01

-0.07

Aged 0-14 years

no.

48,693

48,036

n.y.a

28,631

28,227

n.y.a

Aged 65 years and over

no.

29,833

30,227

n.y.a

18,219

18,540

n.y.a

Median age of total population

years

35.6

36.0

n.y.a

35.7

36.1

n.y.a

Labour force

Employed (annual average)

'000

96.8

95.9

96.7

55.0

56.6

59.5

Unemployed (annual average)

'000

9.9

10.1

10.1

7.4

5.5

5.0

Unemployment rate (annual average)

%

9.3

9.5

9.4

11.9

8.8

7..7

Participation rate (annual average)

%

60.0

58.6

59.0

59.4

59.0

59.7

Education

Government schools

no.

101

100

99

60

57

58

Non-government schools

no.

34

33

34

16

16

17

Government full-time school students

no.

29,385

29,531

29,454

17,973

17,996

18,081

Non-government full-time school students

no.

12,180

12,024

11,933

4,858

4,813

4,870

University of Tasmania enrolments(a)

no.

6,335

6,589

6,636

2,861

2,869

2,744

Income

Individual taxpayers (year ending 30 June)

'000

96.7

92.8

n.y.a

54.1

51.9

n.y.a

Mean taxable income (year ending 30 June)

$

30,233

31,862

n.y.a

28,200

29,840

n.y.a

Age pension(c)

no.

n.a

20,887

21,534

n.a

13,167

13,803

Disability Support Pensions(c)

no.

n.a

9,625

10,343

n.a

4,981

5,307

Victims of selected offences

Motor vehicle theft

no.

2,316

2,256

2,284

478

616

840

Armed robbery

no.

43

51

47

23

11

25

Sexual assault

no.

102

100

104

57

48

43

New motor vehicle registrations(d)

Registrations

no.

8,597

7,905

9,148

4,400

4,396

3,806

Building(d)

Dwelling units approved

no.

775

815

856

474

489

414

Value of new residential building approved

$m

68.5

78.8

93.1

41.6

48.5

43.6

Value of non-residential building approved

$m

61.1

119.1

91.6

46.1

41.3

44.3

Value of all building approved

$m

150.4

221.1

214.2

96.7

99.8

99.4

Agriculture (year ending 31st March)

Establishments(f)

no.

1,138

1,129

n.y.a

1,584

1,583

n.y.a

Value of agricultural commodities produced (VACP)

$m

148.2

146.6

n.y.a

243.2

248.6

n.y.a

Tourist accomodation(d)(g)

Establishments (December quarter)

no.

52

53

52

36

36

36

Room occupancy rate (annual average)

%

57.2

58.6

59.0

50.8

51.7

50.4

Takings from accomodation (annual average)

$'000

47,974

48,550

53,287

24,208

24,240

24,474

Employment (December quarter)

no.

1,984

2,113

1,985

1,329

1,310

1,293

...continued

REGIONAL SUMMARY-continued

Mersey-Lyell

Tasmania

Unit

1998

1999

2000

1998

1999

2000

Area

km2

..

..

22,523

..

..

68,121

Population

Estimated resident population at 30 June

no.

109,021

108,515

108,236

471,700

470,803

470,376

Population change from previous year

%

-0.59

-0.46

-0.26

-0.38

-0.19

-0.09

Aged 0-14 years

no.

24,673

24,261

n.y.a

101,997

100,524

n.y.a

Aged 65 years and over

no.

13,938

14,241

n.y.a

61,990

63,008

n.y.a

Median age of total population

years

35.4

35.9

n.y.a

35.6

36.0

n.y.a

Labour force

Employed (annual average)

'000

43.9

43.3

43.4

196.4

196.6

200.4

Unemployed (annual average)

'000

5.9

5.5

5.1

22.2

20.2

19.2

unemployment rate (annual average)

%

11.8

11.3

10.5

10.2

9.3

8.7

Participation rate (annual average)

%

57.3

58.1

59.1

59.1

58.6

59.2

Education

Government schools

no.

59

59

58

220

216

215

Non-government schools

no.

16

16

16

66

65

67

Government full-time school students

no.

15,620

15,427

15,268

62,978

62,954

62,803

Non-government full-time school students

no.

4,100

4,022

3,931

21,138

20,859

20,734

University of Tasmania enrolments(a)

no.

1,321

1,362

1,277

10,517

10,820

10,657

Income

Individual taxpayers (year ending 30 June)

'000

43.2

40.8

n.y.a

(b)195.1

(b)186.3

n.y.a

Mean taxable income (year ending 30 June)

$

28,557

30,226

n.y.a

(b)29,285

(b)30,953

n.y.a

Age pension(c)

no.

n.a

10,630

11,192

n.a

45,906

46,546

Disability Support Pensions(c)

no.

n.a

4,953

5,243

n.a

20,009

20,908

Victims of selected offences

Motor vehicle theft

no.

197

206

243

2,991

3,078

3,367

Armed robbery

no.

19

14

6

85

76

78

Sexual assault

no.

57

50

47

216

198

194

New motor vehicle registrations(d)

Registrations

no.

3,258

3,047

2,799

(e)16,272

(e)15,386

(e)15,767

Building(d)

Dwelling units approved

no.

247

276

284

1,496

1,580

1,554

Value of new residential building approved

$m

21.2

25.1

30.3

132.3

152.5

166.0

Value of non-residential building approved

$m

23.5

31.7

22.3

130.8

192.1

158.3

Value of all building approved

$m

53.0

64.1

60.5

300.2

384.9

374.2

Agriculture (year ending 31st March)

Establishments(f)

no.

1,761

1,734

n.y.a

4,482

4,446

n.y.a

Value of agricultural commodities produced (VACP)

$m

286.9

304.7

n.y.a

678.2

699.9

n.y.a

Tourist accomodation(d)(g)

Establishments (December quarter)

no.

41

41

40

129

130

128

Room occupancy rate (annual average)

%

42.6

42.4

40.3

51.7

52.5

51.8

Takings from accomodation (annual average)

$'000

17,526

17,273

17,275

89,708

90,063

95,036

Employment (December quarter)

no.

811

805

721

4,124

4,228

3,999

(a) Reported region of home residence. (b) Includes data for Tasmanian individuals whose residential addresses cannot be assigned to one of the three regions. (c) 1999 data: number of recipients at 4 January; 2000 data: number of recipients at 4 June. (d) ABS statistical series are being impacted by varying degrees as a result of The New Tax System (TNTS), introduced in Australia from 1 July 2000. TNTS includes the removal of Wholesale Sales Tax and the introduction of a Goods and Service Tax (GST), and as a result, a number of ABS data series will reflect significant and subsequent impacts. Further information can be found in ABS Statistics and The New Tax System (Cat. no. 1358.0). (e) Includes vehicles where the registered owner's residential address is located interstate but the vehicle is registered in Tasmania. (f) Excludes establishments whose estimated value of agricultural operations is less than $5,000. (g) Includes hotels, motels, guest houses and serviced apartments with 15 or more rooms.

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